Symptoms

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While many people with peripheral artery disease have mild or no symptoms, some people have leg pain when walking (intermittent claudication).

Intermittent claudication symptoms include muscle pain or cramping in your legs or arms that's triggered by activity, such as walking, but disappears after a few minutes of rest. The location of the pain depends on the location of the clogged or narrowed artery. Calf pain is the most common location.

The severity of intermittent claudication varies widely, from mild discomfort to debilitating pain. Severe intermittent claudication can make it hard for you to walk or do other types of physical activity.

Peripheral artery disease symptoms include:

Painful cramping in your hip, thigh or calf muscles after activity, such as walking or climbing stairs (intermittent claudication)

Leg numbness or weakness

Coldness in your lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side

Sores on your toes, feet or legs that won't heal

A change in the color of your legs

Hair loss or slower hair growth on your feet and legs

Slower growth of your toenails

Shiny skin on your legs

No pulse or a weak pulse in your legs or feet

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If peripheral artery disease progresses, pain may even occur when you're at rest or when you're lying down (ischemic rest pain). It may be intense enough to disrupt sleep. Hanging your legs over the edge of your bed or walking around your room may temporarily relieve the pain.

When to see a doctor

If you have leg pain, numbness or other symptoms, don't dismiss them as a normal part of aging. Call your doctor and make an appointment.

Even if you don't have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, you may need to be screened if you are:

Over age 70

Over age 50 and have a history of diabetes or smoking

Under age 50, but have diabetes and other peripheral artery disease risk factors, such as obesity or high blood pressure

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